JEFFERSON COUNTY, Alabama -- A Jefferson County man was shot early today, authorities said.

The shooting happened at 3 a.m. in the 5600 block of Norway Avenue in western Jefferson County. The 32-year-old victim is in surgery at University Hospital, said sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian.

The male shooter, 23, is in custody and is currently being interviewed by deputies.

The victim originally told deputies he was standing by his car in Edgewater whenhe heard several shots and realized he had been hit. The investigatin, however, revealed that the shooting happened on Norway Avenue about three miles away.

Someone drove the victim to Princeton Baptist Medical Center, but he was later transferred to UAB, where he gave deputies a false name. Deputies found his true identity and learned he has outstanding warrants failure to appear on charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and carrying a pistol without a license.

Christian said deputies found blood and shell casings in the yard at 5600 Norway Avenue. A resident there said heard soemthing about 1 a.m., but didn't see anything.

The shooter and a second man went to the Center Point Substation to report they had been shot at, and returned fire. The shooter admitted to the firing the shots, and said he did so in self-defense.